Choosing words can be a bit tricky. Or should we say troublesome? Or maybe paralyzing? Fun? You get the point; writing sometimes feels like fitting the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. You need just the right shape, just the right color, just the right surface design, and just the right size. If you can't find the right piece, the puzzle won't go together to give the picture intended. Likewise, when you write, if you can't find the right word, your meaning may not be as true, vivid, specific, and exciting as you may wish.

Consider your diction and choose words purposefully; look for the terms that best explain your ideas. Don't be afraid to use intellectually challenging words or to use slang. You can substitute colorful words for everyday jargon, or use that jargon to bring your readers into your special jargon-rich culture. Whether your diction is "ritzy" or right off the street, use it to your best advantage. Keep your readers engaged, and persuaded to your point of view.

In English, we have lots of word choices; we even have a thesaurus in hard copy or on line to help us find just the right word to fit the exact meaning we have in our minds. Deliberate use of slang, contradictions, jargon, code words, and yes, even the "to be" stative verb can help you present your ideas exactly. And don 't be afraid to challenge readers with new words, even big ones it you need them to emphasize your intent, and of course, provided you use them correctly.

Which words should you choose? The most appropriate, of course, to give your reader the smoothest, most enlightening trip through your essay. But consider this point. English is derived from ancient Germanic roots. Anglo-Saxon verbs often carry more force than the Latinate words that came into English with the Norman Conquest. How about "thwart" (Old Norse/Germanic) compared to "check" (Old French/Latinate), or "tool" (Germanic) compared to "implement" (Latinate)? When spoken, Germanic words may have a heavier, deeper sound than Latinate ones. Sometimes you want force or weight, sometimes you don 't. Reading your text aloud, or reading it into a tape recorder and playing it back, gives you the opportunity to HEAR your writing. Text is always filtered through the reader 's "mind 's ear," which allows nonexistent audio "sounds" to enhance meaning.

Choose your words carefully, and beware of the thesaurus, particularly the on line versions. The substitute words do not always carry the exact meaning you want. Check the dictionary. And skip pretentious words; there's nothing wrong with big words, but you'll get your point across in a straightforward manner if you use direct, precise language. Also skip euphemisms, terms that hide meaning, e.g., "traffic control unit" for "stop light."

In addition to using appropriate words to convey your ideas, you will want to think about the voice and style in which you present your ideas. Are you the expert, or do you want to question the expert? Do you want to talk about the topic to an unidentified audience, or do you want to talk directly to your reader? Do you want to assert all the way through the essay, or, would it be a good idea to tell some stories, present some analogies, use some metaphors, or pull in expert testimony? You 're in charge of persuading your audience to believe what you have to say. Think about you reader and the most convincing approached to that reader as you put your ideas into writing. Present those ideas as persuasively as possible.

And don't forget who you are. What's your position relative to your readers? Are you an expert from academia? Are you a member of the group about whom you're writing? What kind of expertise do you have? How do you convey it to your readers? Be sure not to switch midstream; keep your focus on your audience and be consistent in writing to them.

A good way to learn about voice and style is to look carefully at essays and other types of writing for their style, diction, and tone. What do good writers do to make you "see" or "hear" or "feel" a certain way? How do they convey ideas? What kinds of words and tone do they include in their writing? Use these techniques your own writing. Make your mistakes now and learn from them; don't make them later.

Reading aloud can also help you strengthen your style and maintain your voice. As you read, your voice will break when you locate awkward phrasing, or short choppy sentences, or long strings of words that don't mean a whole lot. Ask someone to read your essay to you. Often, you'll hear what you don't see, and having someone else read your writing puts a new "voice" behind the ideas. Do a little role play: Listen to your oral essay as if you were listening to the radio. Who 's speaking and do you believe the speaker? What do you hear? Do the words and ideas make sense? Could other word choices improve the meaning or the flow? Where are the natural pauses in the text? Have you punctuated to mark pauses or stress important ideas? When you write, you're only as successful at communicating your meaning as your audience is at getting it. Put yourself on the other side of the hard copy text or computer screen and think about what you see and "hear."